are these individuals from syria or is this conflict attracting militants from overseas? >> reporter: according to western intelligence officials, according to syrians and personally speaking from individuals i have spoken to over the course of covering this conflict, it is definitely attracting people from the region and overseas. i personally have met with rebel fighters that have come from libya, even some from egypt who have wanted to go to syria to fight. they see this as a larger ideological conflict. the government is a staunchly secular one. they believe syria is engaged in what they consider a jihad or a holy war, and they're using that to rally muslims from all around the world to come and join the fight. western intelligence sources and others have reported on the participation of fighters from the caucuses, central asia, as well as from iraq and other neighboring countries. there's no doubt it is galvanizing many fighters to come and join what they say is a religious fight against secularism. >> we've heard talk of an increasingly desperate syrian government c